Diekroeger's two-run single off the wall, plated two and gave the Cardinal a season opening sweep of Rice after trailing 6-5 in the ninth inning of game two. Stanford had taken the series earlier in the day paced by 11 runs in the seventh inning.

In what would be a reoccurring theme in game two, Abe Gonzales (0-1) hit Tyler Gaffney with two outs in the ninth to open up the door for the Cardinal. Pinch-hitter Adam Gaylord followed with a single to put runners on the corners.

Pinch runner Kellen McColl then stole second, before Diekroeger hit a 3-1 pitch high in the air and off the right field wall. Gaffney scored followed by McColl, seconds ahead of Diekroeger reaching second base, as the Cardinal freshman had the first walk-off hit of his young career.

Poor pitching led to early leads, as 19 combined walks were issued in the game.

Stanford took an early 4-1 lead in the second off of a bases load walk and hit by pitch, while Rice closed to within 5-4 in the sixth off of walks by relievers Garrett Hughes and Brian Busick.

Rice eventually tied it at 5-5 in the eighth off a two-out RBI single from Diego Seastruck, before taking a 6-5 lead off a triple by Michael Fuda in the ninth.

In game one, Rice's 4-2 lead was erased in the seventh when the Cardinal went through five Rice pitchers, and scored 11 runs on nine hits. Three errors or four walks did not help Rice's cause in the inning, as Jake Schlander doubled twice in the inning.

It was the first time since the 2008 College World Series and 11 runs were scored against Florida State that the Cardinal had reached double digits in an inning.

Scott Snodgress went a career-high 6.1 innings, giving up the first four runs in a no-decision, as Danny Sandbrink (1-0) went the final 2.2 innings for the win in game one.

The Cardinal host Pacific on Tuesday, prior to traveling to top-ranked Texas next weekend for a three-game series.